Guys:
Got a new Unisaw with Biesemeyer fence, a Delta 15″ planer and a DJ-20 jointer. They arrived well packaged with a few parts missing. The jointer’s motor arrived mounted sideways to the bed- it had to be removed and remounted- it was a not a fun job as the motor is quite heavy and this is a hands and knees kind of job.
The Unisaw is “Made in the U.S”; but the planer and jointer both were made in China. A friend asked whether the machines were shipped with carmoline (sp?) – the Unisaw was not- he flet that furher indicated it came from within the U.S. whereas the planer and jointer were covered with the stuff.
Some words of advice when buying from Delta. First- the “X5” thing- I had heard it meant the machine was U.S made- not true- certainly not the case with my planer. One gets a 5 year warranty but the coupon book is pretty worthless. You also can choose from a base, a router, a nailer etc- but these are all <$100- still not worth the extra $ for the X5. The 15 inch planer does not have a non-X5 option in the Toolcrib catalog. When I contacted Delta about this – they said that there was one but it was the same price.
I ordered, as the “gift” for choosing the X5 version of the Unisaw and planer, a mobile base for each. The problem turned out with the time of delivery. I received the machines long before the machine bases arrived because you have to send the machine’s serial # to Delta’s rebate program first before they will send the base. As I did not want to move the machines tiwce ( first off their pallets, then on to the base) I had to leave the machines sit until the bases arrived- about 4-5 weeks later. I orderd the cheaper, non- X5, jointer with a base to fit simultaneously and that worked out well.
I continue to try to get the dust collection system on the planer to work with my 4″ dust collector. The dust hood that is sold with the planer has a 5″ opening. Delta has yet to provide me with an adapter that will allow it to fit a 4″ dust collector hose including the “5 to 4″ adapter- as the 5” side is exactly the same size as the port on the hood- does not slide into or onto the adapter. If anyone has a “fix” for this let me know.
In general, I have not been overly pleased with Delta’s teatment after buying over $4000 of their stuff. Their rebate center is slow- their service system inadequate.
Problem is- I don’t know if Powermatic would have been any better. At least now that I finally have the machines hooked up, they do cut wood in a prodigious fashion.
Scotty
Replies
Scotty,
Congratulations on all the new toys for the shop, hopefully all the minor glitches will soon fade into memory. The dust collection plastic adapters are a pain and I have made a couple of mistakes when ordering on line. Rockler has a pretty good variety or adapters and different approaches...but I bring my parts with me and check them out in the store. The best selection is usually at the woodworking shows.
Usually you need to connect similar OD pieces with a piece of pipe/hose and clamps or duck tape. I try to save a few bucks by going to HD, etc. for the connecting pipe/hose.
Great idea. I'll see if I can find some 5" hose and clamps- after all the $ I've spent on these things that seems to be the cheapeat solution.
I bought my ductwork from a fellow who designs and installs the stuff.
He has a machine that expands metal.
I took a piece of the duct work pipe to him and he expanded it slightly to make me an adapter.
Any good shop should be able to do it.
Actually, he did 3 for me, took about 10 minutes all-together. Didn't charge me anything.
Sorry about your other problems with Delta, keep us informed.
Jeff
Well there is a saying that you get what you pay for. As for this...you are paying for good machines and you are not happy. I wish you had better luck with your purchase. You deserve better because you paid more. I have a question...where did you purchase these machines? Amazon? I wonder if you could have found a local dealer, who would have made the same deal...or close to it...and had him deal with your problem. As we all know with Amazon....you just have lots of tools and no body to help with problems. I like real people I can look into their eyes and tell them I am not happy.
Jim
Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I'm kinda stuck- live in northern Wyoming and the nearest "dealer" of this size equipment would be 450 miles south- place called Denver. So ordering from Amazon is nearly imperative- provides the trucking and delivery to my garage shop door.
Thanks Jeff for your reply. I think I'll try finding a piece of 5" hose and a couple of clamps and connect them that way. Not elegant for a $1200 machine.
The black plastic dust fittings can be joined with black automotive glue. Buy any 5" fitting and any 4" fitting and cut off the "other" end with your bandsaw or handsaw and join the 2 pieces with the automotive goop or glue to make the piece you need- this glue and plastic seem to agree and give a suitably strong bond. I have made fittings this way for many of my tools so that each can be connected to the 4" dust collector or my 2 1/2 " shopvac depending on where things are in my small shop.
I am not pleased with Delta either and have ordered my first Grizzly tool, a 8" G0543 jointer. I will post my Grizzly tool experience when the jointer arrives.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .
Good luck on the Grizzley- hope it works well for you.
The outlet on the hood is for a five inch hose. If you do softwoods often, the shavings can overwhelm a four inch. Delta has a metal fitting, I forget the part #, it's a 5" to 4" reducer. The 5" is way too big for the hood outlet. Plastic and metal do not match in size so the 4" side doesn't fit plastic parts or hoses. Save your money on that one unless you use spiral metal pipe. The easiest way to connect to 4" is to use a 5" plastic sleave connector from the plastic hood. This will fit over a plastic 5" to 4" reducer to which a 4" hose will fit. It is also easier to place your gate at some other location rather than adding more fittings right there at the hood. Delta, I beleive, designed the hood outlet for directly connecting a 5" flexible hose. This is a typical connection between machine and metal spiral pipe. Gates mount on the pipe. The flex hose is usually short and serves to stop the vibration of the machinery from transfering to the ridgid metal pipe system. They are not thinking about the little shops that run 4" plastic unfortunately. Be carefull when assembling the planer. There are several 10mm bolts for attatching the rollers, belt guards and stand. Some are coarse thread and some are fine. Mine worked perfectly right out of the box, I had to change the plug to match my 220 outlets. I also had a Powermatic industrial 13". At three times the cost it was useless by comparison. I planed 200 LF of 1x12 red oak the first day and it gave me superb results. I think you will be happy with your purchase once you get it up and running.
Thanks for the great advice. I will see if I can find the "plastic sleeve connector" you mention. The last "remedy" that Delta sent to me was a 6" to 1" reducer- I have no idea how to adapt it- same OD at the 5" level as the dust hood outlet- so still your connector idea seems best.
Cosmoline. A combination of grease, shellac and beeswax with copper sulfate added as a corrosion inhibitor. It is initially heated and thinned with alcohol during the mixing state, then is allowed to cool and set up.
A vapor barrier used to protect metal against corrosion for extended periods of time or in hot, humid climates.
Suggestions for removal: Heat with hair dryer and scrape. Wash with kerosene -- or soak object in it. Final wash with alcohol.
In reply to your dust collection problem with your planer. Try http://www.pennstateind.com for 5" to 4" adapter. They also have an adapter if both 5" ports are the same size and one will not slide into the other.
Brent
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